This image was produced by Marco Pece. It is a lego version of a photograph by Robert Doisneau in 1950 entitled Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville. He had been assigned to take images of couples in love around Paris and once captured this image became a symbol of romance in the 1980's.
The image became famous but was not without controversy. Rather than being a spontaneous moment the image was in fact staged, after Robert Doisneau spotted the couple elsewhere in Paris and asked them if they would pose for other pictures around Paris. This isn't the only controversy associated with this image. In 1992 another couple claimed that they were the ones in the photograph and that they hadn't endorse the shot. The woman then went onto sue Doisneau however a court threw it out saying that the woman in the photograph couldn't be identified. Doisneau died in 1994.
2)
This mask was designed by graphic novel artist, David Lloyd. It was made famous by the film V for Vendetta and is based on the characters role model, Guy Fawkes. It is about one man's stand against the system. Since then the mask has become a symbol used by protesters and gives anonymity. "It is that image of collective identification and simultaneous anonymity that is appealing to Anonymous and other groups," says Rich Johnston, a commentator on the world of comics.
3)
Is this dress blue and black or white and gold???
I see it as white and gold with a hint of blue, but others see it as blue and black. This dress has caused huge debate and disagreements, why? Neuroscientist's were able to say why... The image has a blueish tint which affects the brains ability to see the true colour; which it does by filtering out the background colour. However because of the blue tint peoples brains have to make adjustments. Some people adjust and see blue/black and others white/gold.
More in depth details can be found here:-
https://www.wired.com/2015/02/science-one-agrees-color-dress/
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/02/27/Dress-Science-Behind-Color-Controversy
4)
This is a reworking of the iconic London Underground map designed by Harry Beck. It is called 'The Great Bear Underground Map' and was designed by Simon Patterson in 1992, it features famous people from sportsman to comedians and philosophers. It is available to buy from The London Transport Museum.
5)
This image is from the opening sequence of the film 'Un chien andalou' it was short silent surrealist film by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali in 1929. I am afraid I can't watch the film as I believe it would haunt me for a long time.
6)
The above work was designed by William Morris and dates from around 1865. It is a medieval style tapestry that was used for wallpaper and is known as 'fruit' or 'pomegranate'. It can been seen at the V&A in London.
7)
The above image is called Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge is was designed by El Lissitzky in 1919; it is the beginning of his artwork that he used as propaganda. Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge shows Lissitzky's support of the revolutionaries, represented by the Red Wedge revolutionaries, and their fight against the White Army, the anti-communists, represented by the White Circle.
8)
Che Guevara was a Cuban Revolutionary Leader, born in Argentina in 1928. The photograph of him by Alberto Kordo has become an iconic image. Alongside Fidel Castro he fought the Cuban Dictorship in 1950's. He fought against poverty and oppression, 'redistributing land and nationalizing industries.'
The photograph by Albert Kordo is used on hundreds and thousands of products such as t.shirts. However he never received any rights from the image. He gifted one of the first pictures to an Italian publisher Feltrinelli in 1967, who on the death of Guevara saw the potential of the photograph and without permission he quickly made lots of posters to spread the word of martyrdom. In 1997 he finally was able to fight the copyright and received a settlement from Smirnoff, which he passed on for much needed medicine for children in Cuba. His image has become a fashionable symbol for young people. Below are just some of the merchandise that I found from which he received not a penny.
9) The word meme is derivived from the ancient Greek word 'mimema' meaning imitated thing. It has several definitions one being "an idea, behaviour, style, or usage that spreads from one person to another in a culture" and the other is "an amusing or interesting picture, video, etc., that is spread widely through the Internet" (
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meme) We were asked to find different memes for Aylan Kurdi the little boy washed up on the beach. Below are a small selection of some I found. All I want to add is this, these images find there inspiration in the tragic death of a little boy, do you find this humane, sensitive, right??... It makes me very sad.
10)
This issue of the British Journal of Photography features Mercury Prize Winner Dave Okumu on the cover. Edited by Simon Bainbridge this issue is named a Portrait of Britain. It focuses on Britain as a nation and celebrates its uniqueness, diversity and heritage. Showing the population of Britain the positive sides and taking their eye away for the current news trend of a divided nation, Brexit, North/South divide.
The 100 portraits where shown digitally around Britain along with some information about the people featured.
11)
Bill Bragg is an illustrator whose art work is on the cover of Illustration magazine. His work 'But Today I'm Afraid' won the V&A Editorial Illustration Award. The image was published in The Guardian alongside a report by Masuma Rahim, on the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2105. Bragg is portraying the authors worry about a backlash to innocent Muslims following the attacks.
12)
Ben Venom's work is on the cover of Surface Design; he is quilter and produces art work that "is a collision of fine art, craft, and what I call the fringes of society". By this Venom refers to punk rock, paganism, folk art, heavy metal and motorcycle clubs. He has earned himself the name The Heavy Metal Quilter.
13)
This iconic image was named Earthrise, it was taken by Major William .A. Anders one of the crew of Apollo 8 on 24th December 1968. It is said to have inspired the start of environmental movement.
Resources
1)
www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/paris-mon-amour-73220943/?no-ist
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/13/france.arts
2)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15359735
3)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/weird-news/white-and-gold-or-blue-and-black-the-dress-has-confused-the-internet-but-science-has-the-answer-10074228.html
4)
http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/link.html?IXinv=2003/12651
6)
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/d/design-fruit-wreath-wallpapers-william-morris/
7)
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-lissitzky-el-artworks.htm
8)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/guevara_che.shtml
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/may/28/guardianobituaries.cuba
13)
http://earthsky.org/space/apollo-8-earthrise-december-24-1968-new-simulation
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/earthrise.html
